Shotshell



Jan. 18, 1966 v. c. MOEHLMAN ETAL 3,229,634

SHOTSHELL Filed Jan. 30, 1964 INVENTORS VERNON C. MOEHLMAN ROBERT J. KLE/N A T TOP/V5 V United States Patent M 3,229,634 SHOTSHELL Vernon C. Moehlman, St. Louis, and Robert J. Klein, Florissant, Mo., assignors to Olin Mathieson Chemical Corporation, a corporation of Virginia Filed Jan. 30, 1964, Ser. No. 341,323 1 Claim. (Cl. 102-42) The present invention relates to shotshells and in particular relates to the internal base structure of a shotshell commonly referred to in the art as a base wad, overlay wad, or a combined overlay and base wad.

The language base wad is intended to mean a structure which ordinarily seats in the bottom of the interior of a shotshell usually formed with a central aperture for receiving a primer and providing a conduit for directing primer flame towards the powder to ignite the powder.

The term overlay is directed to the structure which is seated over and around the base wad providing among other things a barrier between the base wad and the powder load and also providing a package or enclosure for the base wad.

A particular feature of the present invention is the provision of a novel overlay and base wad assembly or combination.

It is a further feature of the present invention to provide an overlay base wad assembly which renders a given shotshell reloadable.

That is, a shotshell utilizing the present invention may be reloaded numerous times by merely re-priming the shell and recharging the shell with appropriate powder load, filler wad, and shot charge without having to renew the novel overlay base wad assembly.

It is a further feature of the present invention to provide a moldable plastic overlay wad which, by virtue of its configuration, includes a base wad portion defining a generally annular cavity bounded by concentric circular walls.

It is a further feature of the present invention to provide a combined overlay base wad structure wherein the annular cavity is filled with air or filler material defining a filler ring.

A shotshell embracing certain features of the present invention may comprise a tubular body terminating in a head, said head having a central opening for reception of a primer assembly, an overlay base wad assembly disposed inside the tubular body surrounding said primer and seated against the head, said assembly comprising a generally cylindrical molded plastic body having a central through aperture, said body having a transverse web bounded by a circular upstanding flange so as to define a recess or a cup-like structure at one end thereof, the opposite end of said body being formed with an annular recess bounded by two concentric, downwardly projecting flanges, said downwardly projecting flanges being connected to said web.

Other features and advantages of the present invention will become more apparent from a study of the succeeding specification when read in conjunction with the appended drawings in which:

FIG. 1 is a vertical section of a shotshell embracing one embodiment of the present invention, and,

FIG. 2 is a similar view of the lower portion of a shotshell showing a modification of the invention.

Referring now to FIG. 1, there is shown a sectional view of a shotshell indicated generally by the reference numeral comprising a body 11, a head 12, a primer 13, shot charge 14, a protective collar 29, filler wads 15, cup wad 28, and a powder charge 16.

Disposed in the interior of the body 11, surrounding the primer 13, and seated or bottomed against the head 3,229,634 Patented Jan. 18, 1966 12 is a combined overlay base wad assembly, indicated generally by the reference numeral 17.

The assembly comprises a molded plastic, generally cylindrical body 18 formed with a central through aperture 19. The aperture 19 is operative to straddle and receive the primer assembly 13 and provide a conduit to direct primer flame toward the powder 16 to accomplish ignition in well known fashion.

The assembly 17 is formed at one end (its upper end) with a cup-like recess 20 bounded by a transverse web 25 and by a circular upstanding flange 2-1.

The opposite end of the assembly 17 is formed with an annular cavity or void 22 bounded by a pair of axially spaced, concentric, circular Walls 23 and 24. The Walls 23 and 24 are joined at their upper ends by web 25.

In the embodiment of the invention shown in FIG. 2 the overlay base wad assembly is modified by the inclusion or the incorporation therein of a filler ring 26.

It is anticipated that the overlay base wad assembly of the present invention may be fabricated in accordance with the embodiment of FIG. 1 or FIG. 2 depending upon the type load or charge and the resultant stress expected upon the assembly.

While the molded plastic body portion of the overlay base wad assembly may be fabricated of any suitable plastic consistent with economical mass production methods, it is preferred that the body be molded of an olefin plastic, such as polyethylene, polystyrene, or nylon.

Correspondingly, the filler ring may be fabricated of any economical, easily worked, relatively incompressible material.

It is preferred to utilize molded cellulosic fibers suitably impregnated with a binder. Typical examples of the filler ring material may be wood flour, sawdust, ground corn cobs, ground nutshells, and like material.

It is anticipated that a number of embodiments of the present invention may be devised without departing from the spirit and scope thereof.

What is claimed is:

A shot shell comprising a tubular body terminating in a head, said head having a central opening for reception of a primer assembly, and an integral one piece plastic overlay base wad assembly disposed inside the tubular body, said assembly consisting of a first tubular portion positioned against the inside of said tubular body and having one end in contact with said head, a spaced concentric second tubular portion having one end in contact with said head and having its inner surface defining a bore coextensive with the opening in said head, a transverse web connecting the opposite ends of each of said tubular portions, said transverse web and said first and second tubular portions defining a void space enclosed by said head, and an upstanding circular flange extending from said web in a direction away from said first tubular portion and having its outer surface in contact with the inner surface of said tubular body.

References Cited by the Examiner UNITED STATES PATENTS 2,936,709 5/ 1960 Seavey 10244 3,099,958 8/1963 Daubenspeck et al. 10244 3,157,121 11/1964 Daubenspeck et al. 10242 FOREIGN PATENTS 323,775 11/1902 France.

BENJAMIN A. BORCHELT, Primary Examiner.

SAMUEL FEINBERG, Examiner.

R. F. STAHL, Assistant Examiner. 

